When Kiammie Freeman mentions the word “agritourism,” she often gets a blank stare in return. People don’t know what it means.
“I grew up around farmland, and I watched the farmers. They had corn mazes and pumpkin patches. Agritourism is anything that brings in income from agriculture,” said Kiammie Freeman, who through her business, Earthly Rooted, provides an array of services including agriculture and agritourism consultations. She’s also a naturalist who creates herbal supplements.
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It’s not just crops that can generate income from land or from the out-of-doors.
One of the areas of agritourism that piques Freeman’s interest is non-traditional camping.
“I’m taking a school bus and turning it into an RV,” she said. “But RV parks don’t want you to come.”
Hipcamp is a San Francisco-based company similar to the Airbnb concept that allows people to book outdoor-spaces. People who own land can allow people to rent their outdoor space through the app.
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Glamping is another non-traditional camping experience in which people have a luxury camping experience with all the amenities.
Freeman said she sees the potential for both Hipcamp and glamping in the area, but she said landowners can be wary. As a consultant, she wants to work to build their trust.
One of the projects she’s working with is a pilot program with Studio Farmer, a non-profit organization, which is transforming a property on Cornell Drive with hoop houses and urban gardens.
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“Agritourism in this space is doable,” she said, adding that she has multiple ideas for the space.
Freeman is an Army veteran and gives back a portion of her proceeds to veterans’ projects.
For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/earthlyrootedagandholistics.
Charmain Z. Brackett is the Features Editor for The Augusta Press. Reach her at charmain@theaugustapress.com.
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